Tom Vek Interview

Tom Vek, the British-born musician, is best known for his own style of music, best described as Indie-tronic Beat Rock, since his first album We Have Sound was released five years ago.

The elusive character has certainly been keeping a low profile since then but he’s now crawled out of the recording studio, looking more refined than ever. BBM Live’s Sarah Wilk caught up with him to discuss the release of his new album Leisure Seizure.

When asked how the new tracks compare to what he’s musically done before, he explained “I’d say it’s an amplification in a non literal way. There were indescribable elements in the first album and I guess I’ve elaborated on them”

Tom is a not just a singer, he’s a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, on the new album he plays “Drums, bass guitar, keyboards, even the accordion (but loosely termed considering what I did to that thing.) I’ve also played the computer, in an instrumental manner. On World of Doubt the weird noise you hear is actually an auto-harp.”

Tom likes to remain in complete control of his creative output and he does this by being not only the performer but by being the master of his own production. When asked whether he prefers production or performance, Tom explained “I prefer the point in the middle when the music is finished. I’d say the live stuff is more of a sporting endurance; it’s a continuous attempt to make it faithful to the music. There’s nothing worse than getting on stage and it sounding like a karaoke version of the song. I’m touring Europe soon and I’ve discovered a way of performing it faithfully to the music without being too regimented so I’m excited about that.”

He has no fear of the curse of the second album, stating “All my favourite albums are second albums. I think it’s usually the third albums that are dull. Anyway, I like the suspicion and untrust of a second album, a lot of that goes into my lyrics”

Like all musicians, Tom listens to a range of music, but describes his influences as “A big mix really but I still religiously listen to 90’s American alternative music. That’s my holy grail. When people listen and say ‘that’s so 90’s’ I think ‘no, that’s the future’.”

With a string of gigs in Europe in June, that leaves all us here in Australia wondering whether he’ll make the journey over. When asked if he had plans to come to the sunnier climes he remarked positively “I think and I hope there is.”

Tom is endearing in his musical style and never fails to produce music that can be appreciated both for its sound and its lyrics. After listening to A Chore, the first single of the album, I’ve definitely been left wanting more.

Leisure Seizure is available to buy right now or you could go to the BBM LIVE competition page and enter for your chance to win one of 5 copies of the new album thanks to our friends at Universal Music.